Game on

Snakes and laddersStart playing: 3+Up to four playersOriginally a game developed in India in the second century, Snakes and Ladders is used by teachers to help children grasp the basic principles of counting. The very simple rules make it the perfect first board game for younger children, and while they might not finish the game at first (it can be hard when you keep landing on those cursed snakes) counting the dots on the dice, and then counting the right squares on the board and moving the counters accordingly, all help to improve their motor planning and sequencing skills, which will be required when they start at big school. Plus, it’s a game that can fit up to four players, so the whole family can get involved in the fun.Available at all major toy stores.